Tag Archives: anti-Islam film

Tehran: Iran has decided to boycott the 2013 Oscars over the blasphemous anti-Islam film that sparked outrage and protests around the Muslim world.

Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” won the Oscar for best foreign language film in February, becoming the first Iranian film to win the award.

Iran would “protest against the making of a film insulting the Prophet and because of the organizers’ failure to take an official position (against the film)”, Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini said.

Despite tough censorship and the repression of leading filmmakers, Iranian art cinema has earned international acclaim over the past 20 years, Reuters reported.

Hosseini also urged other Islamic countries to boycott the Oscars.

“The position that Western politicians have adopted on these great insults are no different from a position of enmity,” Iranian media quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying on Monday.

The amateurish video, insulting Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), has igribwnited weeks of violent protests across the Muslim world in which dozens of people, including the US ambassador to Libya, have been killed.

Islamabad: Condemning an anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims, that has triggered violent protests across the Muslim world, the people of Pakistan will observe ‘Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rassol (S.A.W)’ on today.

The government of Pakistan has announced National Holiday on Friday.

Different political and religious parties have announced to take out processions after Friday prayers expressing their anger over the American-made film.

Shops, markets and petrol stations will close and transport is likely to come to a standstill, but authorities will hope there is no repeat of the violence seen on the streets of the capital on Thursday.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan and other political leaders have urged nation to lodge their protest against the film in a peaceful manner.

The government has stepped up security measures on the ways leading to US consulates and Embassy in the country as there were possibilities that the miscreants would took advantage of the situation and try to sabotage the peaceful protests.

Mobile services were also suspended in parts of Pakistan in order to foil any possible terror plot as the militants had earlier use mobile phones to detonate the explosive devices.

On Thursday, thousands of Pakistanis clashed with police firing live rounds and tear gas as anger mounted in the Muslim world over a US-made anti-Islam film and French cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Up to 50 people were injured as police drove back thousands of protesters, many armed with wooden clubs, trying to storm Islamabad’s heavily-guarded diplomatic enclave — home to Western embassies including the US, British and French missions.

KARACHI:
Police officials resort to using teargas, water cannons and aerial firing to disperse a protest rally by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) against an anti-Islam film in Karachi, Express News reported on Sunday.

10:45:

Shia Ulema Council Pakistan (SUCP) has also announced to observe three days of mourning against the police action on the rally. They have demanded an impartial inquiry in the incident.

10:30pm:

City police chief Iqbal Mehmood told AFP at least 20 people have been arrested.

Richard Silver, a spokesman for the US consulate, said there had been no damage or injury to any personnel at the mission.

10:15pm:

According to Express News correspondent Naeem Khanzada, the protesters are still present at the Numaish Chowrangi.

The MWM leaders have demanded the authorities to take notice of the use of force against their rally.

9:12pm:

A police car and a petrol pump was set on fire in the Gurumandir area by unknown persons.

In total, four police vans have been destroyed during the protest.

The protesters, including women and children, are still present at the Numaish Chowrangi.

8:40pm:

According to MWM general secretary, around 19 people were injured during the protest.

8:25pm:

The MWM has announced to observe three days of mourning against the police action towards their rally.

According to Express News, the vehicles torched by the protesters were police cars.

7:55pm:

The protesters have reached the Numaish Chowrangi and are protesting against the film.

The MWM leaders will hold a press conference at 09:30pm to announce their future course of action.

The protesters have burnt two cars on the MA Jinnah Road.

Police have arrested six people in relation to the protests.

7:38pm:

According to Express News correspondent Naeem Khanzada, the protest outside the US consulate has ended and the protesters are now headed towards the Numaish Chowrangi.

7:09pm:

The MWM leaders have asked the protesters to immediately end the protest outside the consulate and instead stage a sit-in near the Numaish Chowrangi.

The decision has been taken after negotiations between the MWM leaders and the administration.

The MWM will decide on future course of action during the sit-in.

7:03pm:

According to Express News, one protester was killed while several got injured due to aerial-firing by police.

6:57pm:

MWM leaders have asked the protesters to stay non-violent and move back. Most of the protesters have moved back.

Few protesters are still present outside the consulate and protesting against the anti-Islam film.

Few protesters have set a police check post on fire. No fire brigade has reached the area to put out the fire.

6:47pm:

The protesters have started gathering in front of the US consulate’s main gate.

More protesters from a nearby area have joined the rally.

6:42pm:

According to MWM General Secretary, around eight protesters have been injured.

Protesters have moved back but have refused to end protest.

6:35pm:

Protesters are throwing stones at the security officials.

Three people have been injured due to the clash between the protesters and police personnel.

The injured have been shifted to a local hospital.

6:33pm:

Thousands of protesters are marching towards the US consulate to register their protest against the film.

The rally, which has reportedly reached very close to the consulate, was stopped at three different points for negotiations.

Religious parties, Christian minority groups, traders and civil society members have staged protests across Pakistan condemning the movie that has been deemed offensive by the West and the Muslim world alike. They rebuked the filmmaker for hurting the sentiments of Muslims and sabotaging interfaith harmony across the world.